Supporting hook



Peb.. 13, 1940. v. E. slMMoNs SUPPORTING HOOK Filed lay 9. 1938 Patented Feb. 13, 1940 UNITEDy STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTING 1100K Victor E. Simmons. Johnstown, Pa. Application May 9, 1938, Serial No. 206,875

1 Claim. (Cl. 248-206) This invention relates to supporting hooks particularly suitable for use in hanging pictures and the like, and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a supporting hook of this kind which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient in use.

More particularly, the present invention contemplates the provision of a supporting hook including a button-like member presenting at its rear side a circular fiat surface adapted to engage a wall or other smooth surface and to be effectively secured thereto withoutthe aid of screws or other driven fasteners, and a hook member carried by and projecting from said button-like member.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the supporting device includes a suction cup, and a spring strip secured at one end centrally to said suction cup, said spring strip extending downwardly beyond the edge of the suction cup and provided at its other or lower end with a smaller supplemental suction cup arranged to engage the wall under tension to maintain the position of the first or main suction cup with relation to the surface to which it is attached, the

first-named end of said spring strip being provided with a forwardly directed hook member. In this way, the spring strip affords means whereby the supporting device will be held against accidental displacement in a direction tending to break the vacuum of the main vacuum cup,and the second or supplemental vacuum cup prevents sliding movement of the device relation to the supporting surface.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the button-like member has a plane rear surface adapted to be flatly secured to the wall or supporting surface by means of adhesive, and the hook member is formed on one end of a strip embedded in the button-like member and depending from the latter. In both embodiments, the at circular rear surface afforded by the button-like member may be attached to the wall or surface by means of adhesive, such adhesive, in the case of the form embodying a vacuum cui).l assisting the vacuum in securing the device to the wall.

With the above objects in view, the present invention consists in the novel form. combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one form of supporting device constructed in accordance 'with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l of a modifled form of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a vertical section on line I-4 of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the present invention contemplates the provision of a supporting device including a button-like member 5 presenting at its rear, side a flat circular surface 6 adapted to flatly engage and be secured to a wall or other smooth supporting surface 1 without the aid of screws or other driven fasteners. Carried by the button-like member. 5 is a hook member 8 adapted to engage the article to be supported, such as the suspending cord or wire of a picture frame.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the button-like member 5 is in the form of a suction cup having a headed rivet 9 embedded centrally thereof with the shank of the rivet projecting forwardly. Attached centrally to the suction cup 5 is one end of a spring strip I0 that extends downwardly and rearwardly beyond the edge of the vacuum cup 5 and is provided at its lower end with a smaller supplemental vacuum cup Il arranged to engage the wall or supporting surface 1 beneath the main suction cup 5.' The arrangement is such that the spring strip I0 isexed forwardly and placed under tension when the vacuum cups 5 and Il are applied to the wall or surface 1, and the spring strip i0 resists displacement of the main vacuum cup 5 in a direction tending to break the vacuum of the latter. At the same time, the supplemental vacuum cup ll resists sliding of the device along the surface 1. Obviously, the supplemental vacuum cup I I is more elcient for this purpose than a fiat faced friction member merely having frictional contact with the wall or surface 1. The upper end of the spring strip l0 is formed with a forward extension providing the hook 8, and the circular at surface B of the member 5 may be secured to the wall or surface 1 by means of adhesive in order to assist the holding action produced by the vacuum in the cup 5.

In the form of Figures 3 and 4, the button-like member 5 is simply in the nature of a solid block having a flat rear surface secured throughout its area to the wall or supporting surface 1 by means of adhesive as at I2. Also, in this form, the hook 8 is formed on the projecting lower end of a metal strip Il having its upper end portion embedded and anchored in the button-like member 5. The

embedded end of strip I3 may be enlarged laterally to more securely anchor thesame in the member 5 when the latter is of molded material.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present device is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and elcient in practical use.

What I claim is:

A supporting device oi' the character described comprising a suction cup, a strip of spring metal secured at one end to the central portion of said suction cup at the forward side of the latter, said spring metal strip extending downwardly and rearwardly, and a supplemental smaller suction cup carried by the lower end of said spring metal strip and arranged to engage the supporting surface beneath the first-named suction cupwith the spring strip sprung forwardly so as to be placed under tension, and a forwardly projecting hook member integral with the upper end of said spring stri'p.

VICTOR E. SIMNIONS. 

